Dora Deza

I attribute my success to resilience, discipline, and a strong commitment to continuous growth, even in the face of challenges and change. As someone who came to the United States from Peru to pursue education and opportunity, I learned early on that hard work, consistency, and perseverance are essential to building a meaningful future. My academic journey from earning my Associate of Arts at Palm Beach State College to completing my bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics at Florida Atlantic University, where I graduated with honors and received scholarships reflects my dedication to education and self-improvement. I also attribute my success to my willingness to keep learning beyond the classroom, whether through financial services, investing, or becoming a certified phlebotomy technician during postpartum, which tested my strength and determination in a very personal way. Just as importantly, I credit my growth to my commitment to service and purpose, especially through my involvement with Helping Hands and my focus on supporting children and families in underserved communities. Today, as I balance motherhood, entrepreneurship, and community advocacy, I continue to build on these foundations by staying grounded in discipline, guided by purpose, and motivated by the belief that success is ultimately about growth, impact, and perseverance over time.

The best career advice I’ve ever received has been deeply shaped by my parents and the values they instilled in me from an early age. Growing up in a family of medical professionals, I was surrounded by a strong emphasis on education, discipline, and lifelong learning as the foundation for success. My father, a neurologist, taught me through example that excellence comes from preparation, consistency, and personal accountability. Watching his dedication to his work and his high standards shaped my own commitment to responsibility, focus, and perseverance, even when I didn’t fully understand it as a child. My mother, an anesthesiologist, reinforced the importance of education as a tool for independence and opportunity, encouraging me to stay curious and continuously grow. One of the most meaningful parts of my upbringing was the time we spent reading together and discussing ideas, literature, history, and current events, which nurtured my love for learning and broadened my perspective. Alongside my parents, a close lifelong friend named Selva also taught me the importance of compassion, loyalty, and emotional resilience, reminding me that success is not only about achievement but also about how we show up for others. Together, these influences have guided my approach to my career and life, grounding me in discipline, empathy, and a commitment to continuous growth.

I would say my best advice is resilience. There's going to be, especially as women, a lot of things that might happen through the way, like motherhood, marriages, breakups. For us women, I feel like we are very connected through our feelings, but I think that that could also be an advantage, because that's what makes us strong in the long term. So my best advice would be, be very resilient, never give up, and continue to pursue your dreams.

In my field today, one of the biggest challenges is balancing fast-moving financial markets with the need for disciplined, well-informed decision-making, especially in an environment where information is constant and often overwhelming. At the same time, entrepreneurship while managing motherhood and continued professional growth requires resilience, time management, and adaptability. I also see a broader challenge in the ongoing gap in financial literacy and access to essential services, which leaves many individuals and families without the tools they need to build long-term stability. At the same time, I see strong opportunities in expanding accessible financial education, personalized financial guidance, and community-centered business models that create real impact. My recent certification as a phlebotomy technician also opens a pathway to contribute to healthcare services, where there is a growing need for accessible, community-based care. Through all of this, my focus remains on causes that are deeply important to me—supporting children, empowering families, and strengthening communities through my involvement with Helping Hands and Moms Plates & Dates.

For me, the most important is ethics in anything you do, and values. I'm a very responsible person, I'm a very focused person. In everything I did in my life, I tried to follow through. I came to this country speaking some English, and then I decided to go to school, then I decided to go for a bachelor's, and I feel like I'm a person that whatever I'm in, like if I'm on a stair, I have to get to the top. If I'm climbing a mountain, I have to get to the top. So perseverance, I think that's a word that would describe me pretty good. I believe that whatever I commit to, I see it through completely.